Numerical indicator



Nov. 20, 1962 R. s. ELY

NUMERIGAL INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June l. 1960 JNM M J MWI Nov. 20, 1962 R. s. ELY

NUMERICAL INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l. 1960 mmvron. gabe/* 5 El! Nmvmnmno Gnrr Il BY l FJ TTOENEY United States Patent Oiifice 3,064,375 Patented Nov. 20, 1962 3,064,375 NUMERICAL INDICATOR Robert S. Ely, Cheshire, Conn., assigner to The Electric Indicator Co., Inc., Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 1, 1960, Ser. No. 33,228 3 Claims. (Cl. 40-32) My invention relates to a numerical indicator for displaying numerals and more particularly to an improved numerical indicator which is simpler and which is more satisfactory than are numerical indicators of the prior art.

There are many instances in which it is desirable to display groups of characters such as numerals so as to be visible from a distance. Such displays are useful, for example, in rail and air terminals to indicate arrival and departure times and the like. As is known these times are subject to change with little notice so that it is desirable that the display be able to be changed in a relatively short period of time.

There are known in the prior art various systems for visually displaying numerals. Some systems of the prior art employ rotating cylinders which display the various respective characters as the cylinder rotates. Systems of this type embody the defect that groups of characters to be displayed by a rotating cylinder cannot be closely spaced owing to the large size of cylinder required to present a character of a size large enough to permit it to be viewed at a distance. Moreover, the curved viewing surface is objectionable since characters presented by such a surface are distorted.

Another system which has been suggested in the prior art is one in which the characters are optically projected onto a viewing screen. Such a system requires a large number of small individual projectors which generate an excessive amount of heat.

Still another type system which has been suggested in the prior art is one employing a bulb matrix, the bulbs of which are selectively lighted to display various characters. Not only is the display provided by such a system confusing if a minimum number of bulbs are employed but also the relatively frequent burn out of bulbs results in a very high maintenance cost.

In systems of the prior art of the type in which a positionable member carrying indicia is adapted to be driven by a motor or the like to positions at which the various characters are visible, some means must be provided for controlling the drive means properly to position the member to permit a particular character to be viewed. In the prior art in systems of this type there are employed auxiliary means connected to the drive system for interrupting the drive at a position which should correspond to that at which the selected character is able to be viewed. While such an arrangement is theoretically satisfactory, in practice it oftens results ina positioning of the positionable member at a location at which it is uncertain as to which of two adjacent characters is intended to be displayed or at a location at which the character intended to be displayed is not clearly visible. That is, these positioning means of the prior art are not certain in operation in that they do not account for possible slippage in the system between the positionable member and its drive or a malfunction of the drive control.

I have invented a numerical display which overcomes the defects of numerical displays of the type known in the prior art. My numerical display accurately positions a selected character such as a numeral at a location at which the numeral is clearly visible at a distance. My system embodies a positioning means which is much more accurate than are positioning means of the prior art. My system requires little maintenance and is relatively simple in its construction and its operation. My numerical display permits the numerals making up display to be changed in a relatively short period of time.

One object of my invention is to provide a numerical indicator which overcomes the defects of numerical indicators of the prior art.

Another object of my invention is to provide a numerical indicator which accurately positions the member carrying the indicia to minimize the possibility of an ambiguous or unclear display.

A further object of my invention is to provide a numerical indicator which is simple in construction and in operation.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a numerical indicator which requires very little maintenance.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a numerical indicator which permits the character being displayed to be changed in a relatively short period of time.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of a numerical display including an endless belt carrying indicia such as numerals adapted to be selectively displayed through a window or the like. A drive motor is adapted to be energized to drive the belt to position the respective indicia behind the window. I provide my system with means carried directly by the belt for controlling the drive means to ensure the precise registry of the selected character with the window.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of my numerical indicator with parts broken away and with parts shown in section.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of one unit of my numerical indicator taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the unit of my numerical indicator shown in FIGURE 1 taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a developed view of the endless belt of one unit of my numerical indicator.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of one form of electrical circuit which can be used with my numerical indicator showing the connection between two units of my numerical indicator.

Referring now to FIGURES l to 3 of the drawings, one unit, indicated generally by the reference character 10, of my numerical indicator includes a frame made up by a pair of spaced sides 12 and 14 held in spaced relationship by any suitable means such, for example, as a plurality of spacing rods 16 secured to the sides 12 and 14 by any suitable means such, for example, as by screws 18. I employ any appropriate means known to the art such, for example, as rivets 20 or the like for securing a frame 22 to flanges 25 and 26 formed at one end of the respective sides 12 and 14. The frame 22 forms a window 28 through which the characters such as numerals are adapted to be displayed in a manner to be described hereinafter.

I provide my numerical display with a belt driving roller 30 rotatably `supported in the sides l2 and 14. Since the supports which mount the roller 30 in the respective sides are substantially identical, I will describe only that support in the side 14. An end plate 32 is carried by a shaft 34 for rotation therewith. Shaft 34 extends into a bushing 36 in the side 14. A bearing 38 is disposed between the end plate 30 and the bushing 36. I support the other end of shaft 34 in side 12 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the end of shaft 34 supported in side 14.

The unit 10 includes a guide roller 40 rotatably supported in the respective sides 12 and 14. As shown in FIGURE 1, the lower end of the shaft 42 carrying roller 40 for movement therewith is disposed in a bushing 44 carried by the side 14. I support the upper end of the shaft 42 in the side 12 in a similar manner. A shaft 46 carries for movement therewith a belt tensioning roller 48. As is shown in FIGURE l, I rotatably mount the upper end of shaft 46 as viewed in the figure in a bushing 49 carried by an arm 50. In a similar manner I support the lower end of shaft 46 as viewed in FIG- URE l in a second arm 52. A rod or shaft 54 extending between the sides 12 and 14 pivotally carries the arms 50 and 52. Any suitable means such, for ex ample, as snap rings 56 and washers S8 may be employed to retain the arms 50 and 52 in position on the shaft 54. Respective springs 60 and 62 extending between the ends of arms 50 and 52 remote from the shaft 46 and a switch supporting bracket 64 normally urge the arms 50 and 52 and the roller 48 supported by the arms to move in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG- URE 2.

The unit 10 has a roller 66 formed from conductive material and insulated from the unit for a reason which will be described in detail hereinafter. I rotatably mount the lower end of a shaft 68 carrying roller 66 in a bushing 70 carried by the side 14. In a similar manner I rotatably support the other end of the shaft 68 in the side l2.

The rollers 30, 40, 48, and 66 carry an endless belt 72 formed of a suitable material such, for example, as a plastic. Preferably the belt 72 is formed from an opaque material having a plurality of characters such, for example, as the numerals from zero to nine placed thereon in the form of transparent outlines. As is shown in the developed view of the belt 72 in FIGURE 4, these numerals are spaced along the length of the belt. In FIGURE 3 I have shown the numeral "2 in position behind the window 28 to permit it to be viewed.

The bracket 64, which may be secured to the sides 12 and 14 by any suitable means such as by screws 74, carries a plurality of spaced resilient contact fingers 76 extending from terminals 78 through suitable openings 80 in the bracket 64 to positions at which they may engage the supper surface of the conductive roller 66. In the form of my invention in which ten numerals are to be selectively displayed through the window 28, I provide each unit 10 with a plurality of fingers 76a to 76j corresponding respectively to the numerals l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and with a nger 76x through which power is supplied to the unit in a manner to be described hereinafter.

I provide the endless belt 72 with a plurality of spaced holes -or apertures 82a to 82j corresponding to the respective numbers to be displayed by the unit. Adjacent holes 82 are spaced along the length of the belt by a distance equal to the distance by which `adjacent numerals are spaced, The holes 82a to 82j corresponding to the respective numerals are spaced transversely of the endless belt by distances corresponding to the distance between adjacent fingers 76 and they are located so that as the belt moves in a manner to be described in the direction of the arrow in `FIGURE 4, the holes pass beneath those contacts to which they correspond. I provide the belt 72 with longitudinally extending slots 83 through which the Vcontact 76x makes contact with the roller 66.

Each of the units includes a motor 84 carried by a bracket 86 secured to the side 14, for example, by bolts 88 and spaced from the side by sleeves 89 or the like. When energized, the motor 84 drives its output shaft 90 to drive a gear 92 carried by the shat for rotation therewith. Gear 92 drives an idler gear 94 rotatably supported on a shaft 96 carried by the bracket 86. Gear 94 engages a gear 98 carried by one end of the roller 30.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, I have shown one form of electrical circuit which may be used to control a plurality of units `10, two of which are shown schematically in the ligure and are indicated generally by the respective reference characters 10A and 10B. For purposes of clarity in explaining the electrical circuit, I have shown only the conductive roller 66, the contact fingers 76a to 76]I and 76x as well as the drive motor 84 of each unit. I connect the respective contact lingers 76a to 76j of each unit to a plurality of respective conductors 100a to 100]' and I connect one terminal of the motor 74 of a unit to the contact finger 76x of that unit. Respective conductors 102 and 104 connect the contact fingers 76x of the respective units 10A and 10B to contacts 106 and 108 of a rotary selector switch, indicated generally by the reference character 110 having a contactor 112 adapted to be selectively engaged with the respective contacts of the switch. It will be seen that the particular switch 110 shown in the ligure is adapted to permit the use of eight units 10. I connect the other terminals of the motor 84 of all the units to a common conductor 114 which is connected to one terminal 118 of a source of energy having a second terminal 120'. I connect the conductors 100a to 100i to manually operable contact arms 122a to 122i adapted to be moved into engagement with contacts 124a to 124]', all of which are connected by a common conductor 126 and by an unlatching relay winding 116 to the upper terminal 118. The switching mechanism including contact arms 122 and contacts 124 is of a suitable type known in the art in which operation of any one of the contacts 122 causes a linkage 128 to move a common contact arm 130 into engagement with a contact 132 connected to the terminal 120. I connect the selector switch arm 112 to the arm 130. As is also known in the art, whenever a contact arm 122 and the contact 130 are moved into engagement with their associated contacts 124 and 132, they operate a linkage 134 to cause a latching mechanism 136 to hold the arms and the contacts engaged until the winding 116 is energized to act through a linkage indicated schematically at 138 to release the latched contacts.

I may position any suitable type of illuminating device such, for example, as a neon bulb 140 within the frame of the device 10 behind the window 28 to illuminate the character displayed through the window.

In operation of my numerical display, let us assume, for example, that it is desired to display the numerals 2 and 5 on the respective units 10A and 10B. Let us assume further that the units 10A and 10B now display the characters 9 and 2, for example. To set the display in operation, the contact arm 112 is moved into engagement with the contact 106. It will be remembered that the linger 76x is aligned with the slots 83 in the belt 72 carrymg the indicia so that it is in contact with the conductive roller 66 at any time at which a contact 76a to 76j makes contact. With the arm 112 in engagement with contact 106, the arm 122b corresponding to the numeral 2 is moved into engagement with the contact 124b. This operation causes the latching mechanism 136 to lock this arm in its closed position. This operation also causes arm 130 to move into engagement with contact 132 to cornplete a circuit for motor 84 from terminal 118 through conductor 114, through the motor 84, through conductor 102, through contact 116, through arm 112, through contact arm 130 in engagement lwith contact 132 to the terminal 120. It will be remembered that upon actuation of the switch arm 122b both this arm and the arm 130 are latched in their closed positions by the mechanism 136. When the operations described above have been performed, motor 84 .is energized to drive the belt 72 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGURE 4 around the tensioning roller 48 and guide roller 40 and over the conductive roller 66. This movement of the belt continues until the hole 82b moves under the contact finger 76b to permit this finger to make contact with the roller 66. At the time that this occurs, the numeral 2 is in position behind the window 28. When arm 76b engages the conductive roller 66, it completes a circuit for the winding 116 which may be traced from terminal 118 through contact 124b and Contact arm 122b, through conductor 100b to contact finger 76b, along the conductive roller 66 to the contact linger 76x which is in engagement with the roller 66, whenever a finger 76 contacts `the roller 66 through conductor 102 and Contact 106 to arm 112 and from the arm 112 through arm 130 and contact 132 to the terminal 120. As is explained hereinabove, when this occurs, winding 116 acts through linkage 138 to cause the latching mechanism 136 to release arms 122b and 130 to interrupt both the drive circuit of the motor 84 and the circuit of winding 116. It will be seen that the motor is under the control of the means forming the hole 82b which is directly on the belt 72 which carries the characters being displayed.

To change the indication of the unit 10B from 2 to 5, arm 112 is moved into engagement with contact 124e to cause this contact arm and the contact arm 130 to be latched in their closed positions, As a result of this action the motor 84 of the unit 10B drives the belt 72 of this unit in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 4 until the hole 82e moves under the finger 76e to complete the circuit of the winding 116 at the same time as the numeral is behind the window 28 of the unit 10B. When winding 116 is energized, it interrupts its own circuit and the circuit of the motor 84 of the unit 10B accurately to position the numeral 5 behind the window 28 of the unit B.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a numerical indicator which selectively displays characters such as numerals in positions to be viewed from a distance. The arrangement of my numerical indicator is such that the positioning of character being displayed is under the control of that member which carries the characters. My unit is simple in construction and operation and requires very little maintenance. The indication provided by my numerical indicator may be changed as desired in a rapid and expeditious manner.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is l contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, I may use an elongated belt which will wind on one roller and unwind from another roller in conjunction with a reversible motor. I may display not only single characters such as numerals or letters, but I may also display words or phrases. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. An indicator for selectively displaying a plurality of indicia including in combination an endless belt carrying said indicia in spaced relationship along its length, means mounting said belt for movement to various positions at which the respective indicia are positioned at a display location, means adapted to be energized to drive said belt, means comprising a plurality of selectively operable normally open switches and a common normally open switch responsive to operation of one of said selectively operable switches for energizing said drive means, means adapted to be energized to open said common normally open switch, a conductive member, a plurality of contacts adapted to engage said conductive member, means mounting said contacts in positions at which said belt normally prevents engagement between the contacts and the member, means forming a plurality of spaced openings being disposed at locations at which they permit said contacts to engage said member as the respective indicia arrive at said display location and means comprising one of said selectively operable switches and one of said pairs of contacts for energizing said drive disabling means when the one of said indicia corresponding to the operated one 0f said selectively operated switches arrives at said display location.

2. An indicator for selectively displaying a plurality of indicia including in combination an endless belt carrying said indicia, means mounting said belt for movement to various positions at which the respective indica are positioned at a display location, means adapted to be energized to drive said belt, means for energizing said drive means to move said belt in a particular direction toward a position at which a selected one of said indicia is at said display location, a conductive roller on which said belt is adapted to ride, a plurality of electrical contact fingers, means mounting said fingers in positions adjacent said conductive roller with said belt disposed between the fingers and the roller, a plurality of spaced openings in said belt, and means responsive to the engagement of one of said fingers with said conductive roller through said belt to interrupt said drive means when a selected one of said indicia arrives at the display location.

3. An indicator for selectively displaying a plurality of indicia including in combination an endless belt carrying said indicia in spaced relationship along its length, means mounting said belt for movement to various positions at which the respective indicia are positioned at a display location, means adapted to be energized to drive said belt, a conductive roller on which said belt is adapted to ride, a plurality of contact fingers comprising indicia contact fingers and a common contact linger, means mounting said fingers in spaced relationship across the width of said belt adjacent the location of said conductive roller, a plurality of openings in said belt, said openings being disposed in staggered relationship across the width of said belt at spaced locations along the length of said belt, said belt being formed to permit said common finger to engage said belt at all positions of said openings, said belt normally being disposed between said indicia contacts and said roller to prevent engagement therebetween, and means responsive to the engagement of an indicia contact with said roller through one of said openings for interrupting said drive.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,007,534 Clark Oct. 3l, 1911 1,009,253 Mann Nov. 21, 1911 1,440,916 Grasett Jan. 2, 1923 1,496,159 Green June 3, 1924 2,585,687 Sanderson Feb. 12, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 466,578 Italy Nov. 5, 1951 

